A warm welcome to Fife’s green and (very) pleasant land ...

KIRKCALDY’S most popular park has won a coveted award this week for its environmental excellence.

The Beveridge Park was the only park in Fife to win a Green Flag Award on Tuesday - the second for the green land in as many years.

The park was one of just 34 in Scotland to receive the award, and was marked on eight different criteria, including being a welcoming place, being clean and well maintained, it’s sustainability and community involvement.

Scott Clelland, area parks team leader, told the Press: “It’s great we have been awarded this for the second year running, because it acknowledges the park as being well maintained and managed.

High quality

“Beveridge Park is considered to be a high quality facility for the people of Kirkcaldy, and it’s really been about working together with the Beveridge Park Development Group to keep the park running well.

“Input from organisations like the group is essential - we have had a big investment from it and from Fife Council to do things such as develop the woodland walk and refurbish the fountain over the past year, which has been fantastic.”

The park, which was donated to Kirkcaldy by Provost Michael Beveridge, officially opened in 1892 to a crowd of more than 10,000 people, and has since been used for thousands of events and activities.

The Green Flag is one of many awards the space has received over the past 119 years.

Hard work

Kirkcaldy area committee chairman, Councillor Alice Soper, said: “I’m absolutely delighted the park has achieved this award for the second year running - it is testament to all the hard work put in by Scott Clelland and his team and by the Beveridge Park Development Group, who have all pulled together.

“The floral enhancements are just getting better every year and it looks wonderful - the award is thoroughly deserved.”

The 42 hectares of park were recently re-developed to include a bog garden and woodland walks through the Mill Dam.

Phil Barton, Green Flag Plus Partnership chairman, added: “The importance of good-quality green spaces cannot be overestimated. They are central to the growth of our communities, both socially and economically.”